Morning journal and courier., 1887-06-08
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. THE CRASH IN THE FOG. An Inquiry Into The Celtic
 Collision. THE SHAMR0Ck'S FAST WORK. Bill ChandIer's Contest For
 The Senate. A RAP AT SECRET SOCIETIES. GunbOats To Assist In
 Irish EyictiOns.
A RAP AT SECRET SOCIETIES.
THEY COLLIDED IN A FOG

An Inquiry Begun Into the Recent
 Crash of the Celtic and Britann1c. NEW YORK, June 7.-Acting Consul Will liam R, Hoar of the British consulate and l Captains William McMickan of the Umbria,
 John B. Purvis of the Metopoedia and Fred l eric Archer of the Tower Hill today began 1 an examination into the cause of the recent | collision between the Celtic and B1itannic ] while at sea on May 18th. Captain H. H. Perry of the Britannia was the first witness. | He had had twenty seven years experience as commander of steamships. The acci- | dent occurred at 5:30 p. m. about 370 miles l from New York. The steamers course was altered two leagues south little before the collision, and until within short time of the crash the weather had been beautiful. Then a fog came down. The fog whistle was blown at 5:20 but the Cetic's fog whistle had been heard only once and that about one minute bafore she was seen. The Britannia was at full speed, or fifteen knots an hour. There were extra lookouts and when the Celtic's whistle was heard the speed was reduced. Two officers were in charge and the course was seventy seven degrees south. The weather had been clear mile around until within five mln- utes of the collision. When the Celtic was heard she seemed to be about three miles away on the port bow. Captain Perry sent out a signal 'Port your helm, Pm going to starboard." The Celtic responded by two blasts, indicating she was also going to starboard, then the Britannia ported with orders to the engineers &o fr111 can." This was to try and clear the vessel. The Celtic was only about four hundred yards away when first seen and the crash came about thirty seconds later. The Celtic was first seen about three points off nearly at right angles with the Britannic.
 Second Officer J. B. Mackenzie of the Britannia said theCeltic was three quarters of mile away when first seen. Several short blasts were given by the Britannia to indicate that she was running helm aport. ''I do not believe those blasts were ever blown at all," put in Captain Perry bluntly. stAt least they were ordered" said MT. Nc Kenzie.
 Joseph Coleman, lookout on the Britannic, heard the Celtic's whistle three times before he saw her and four times after and all within five minutes. This witness and his mate corroborated Perry and Mackenzie es to the audiences and density of the fog.
 Captain Peter J. Irving of the Celtic testl- fed that he had commanded White Star yes. sels for eleven yea1s and had commanded the Celtic for six months. Until the Britan- nic's whistle wes blown the Celtic was mak ing thirten and a half knots, an hour. On hearing the whistle he rang down "Dead slow" At the second whistle he ordered the wheel put point and half to the star board. Three minutes interyened between the first whistle and the coming out of the fog. The Celtic's whistle had been sounding since 8 o'clock in the morning and two whistles were blown when the helm was put to star board. He heard no special whistles from the Britannia, the fog whistles being all. Second Officer David Thomas of the Celtic corrohorated tha cantain,s statements